Conservative Group Could Protect GOPers Who Support Gay Marriage

Minnesota Republicans who support gay marriage could be getting some electoral cover from a new conservative group if they face backlash from the right.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on Tuesday that a former chair of the Minnesota Republican Party was co-founding the new group, Minnesotans for Conservative Leadership. It’ll spend money in the state’s legislative elections, and the paper noted that its co-founders have national connections that could yield significant donations.

The two races most immediately on the group’s mind, according to the Star Tribune, feature GOP state legislators who voted last year to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Neither received endorsements from local Republicans entities since making that vote and both are facing direct primary challenges.

“Minnesota needs excellent conservative leaders and to get them and keep them we will make the necessary investments,” Pat Shortridge, the former state GOP party chair, said of the group’s intentions.